Surfing: Perfect start for Procter on Hyundai Tour

Gisborne surfer Daniel Procter stormed back to the top of New
Zealand's longboarding ranks after claiming victory in the
first event on the Hyundai Tour today.

The final day of action was played out in 0.5m conditions at
Manu Bay, Raglan, but Procter found the small swell to his
liking as he edged Ohope surfer Dylan Barnfield.

Procter went into today's action as the sole forehand surfer
of the eight remaining contestants, and his smart noseriding
ability suited the conditions and took him to the final.

After taking the lead with five minutes remaining in the
final, Procter went on to ride a 9.33 point buzzer-beating
ride to extend his lead on a victory-lap wave.

"Dylan got the first wave in the final and it was a good one,
so I knew I had to wait and grab a bigger set wave," Procter
said. "I was lucky a few came through to get me into the
lead, then I blocked him on that last wave and got the 9.33.
That is just how it goes sometimes."

Procter's win gives him the early advantage on the Hyundai
Tour ratings with four events to come. He will now head into
the national championships starting in Piha on Sunday where
he will look to make it back-to-back victories.

"If I keep winning then I will keep going to the tour
events," he said. "This win has given me the ticket to get to
the nationals so we will see how they go in a week's time."

Procter has yet to claim a title in eight years of the
Hyundai Tour, with his second place in 2009 coming the same
year he won the national championship.